OREANDA-NEWS   The replacement of engines on Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft with Russian PD-8 can be estimated at an amount comparable to the residual value of the aircraft, the head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yuri Slyusar, told Vedomosti.

He explained that the unresolved issues related to the replacement lie in the economic plane, not the technical one. In particular, they are due to the significant cost of the new PD-8, since the engine has not yet been certified. "Therefore, with the residual value of the aircraft, for example, at 500 million rubles, it will be necessary to buy new components for a comparable amount — if not more," explained Slyusar.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov already said in December last year that PD-8 is not planned to be installed on already released airliners, since the replacement process is too complicated and requires significant financial costs. He said that the planes will continue to fly with the SaM146 engine, which is a joint development with the French concern Safran.

The company cut off contacts with Russian partners after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, and according to Slyusar, the airlines want Russia to learn how to overhaul SaM146. While specialists in the country are still working on the development of the so-called hot part of this engine, for which Safran was responsible.

As Alexey Komarov, an independent aviation expert, explained, Safran was responsible for the technologically most complex part of this engine, where fuel combustion occurs. The turbine of the hot part, combustion chambers and other elements require very high technologies, he pointed out.

The first PD-8 should be released in 2023, by 2030, according to the new aviation industry development program, it is planned to produce 314 PD-8 engines.